IHS Nigeria, other stakeholders mark 25 years of GSM tech at 2026 eWorld Forum

IHS Nigeria joined telecommunications industry stakeholders, policymakers, technology leaders and members of the media at the 12th edition of the eWorld Forum to commemorate 25 years of Nigeria’s GSM revolution and the transformation it has driven across the country’s digital landscape.

The forum, themed “The GSM Digital Milestones: 25 Years On,” held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together stakeholders from across Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem to examine the industry’s journey from the early days of mobile telephony to today’s increasingly connected digital economy.

The event also featured the launch of two books titled “The Pilgrim Trail – Footprints of Mercy and Nigeria’s GSM Revolution at 25 – The Hall of Digital Pioneers, Players”, authored by the eWorld Forum convener and publisher of eWorld News, Aaron Ukodie, a veteran reporter of the telecommunications industry.

In his goodwill message delivered on behalf of IHS Nigeria, Director, Corporate Communications, Sylva Ifedigbo reflected on the significance of the GSM milestone and the role of infrastructure in enabling Nigeria’s digital transformation.

“Twenty-five years ago, the introduction of GSM technology fundamentally transformed how Nigerians connect, communicate and conduct business. What began as a telecommunications revolution has evolved into a powerful catalyst for economic growth, financial inclusion, innovation and national development,” he said.

He noted that IHS Nigeria’s journey has been closely connected to the development of Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem. As part of IHS Towers, one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count, IHS Nigeria has spent more than two decades building and managing infrastructure that supports mobile network operators and internet service providers across the country.

“IHS Nigeria is synonymous with Nigeria’s GSM story. We are proud to refer to ourselves as Nigeria’s backbone of digital possibilities,” Sylva said, highlighting the company’s infrastructure footprint of approximately 16,000 towers and over 15,000 route kilometres of fibre deployed in Nigeria.

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The company’s infrastructure supports the delivery of voice and data services, while shared infrastructure and connectivity solutions help mobile network operators and other service providers extend their networks. IHS Nigeria’s fibre infrastructure has also expanded the capacity available for connectivity and the delivery of digital services across the country.

At a panel session during the forum, Director, Regional Operations, IHS Nigeria, Olaitan Ogunbiyi, drew from his experience in the telecommunications industry to reflect on the scale of change since the introduction of GSM services in Nigeria.

Olaitan recalled the early days of mobile telecommunications, when access to a mobile line was limited and mobile phones were still relatively new to Nigerians. He noted that the licensing of GSM operators in 2001 marked a significant turning point, followed by the evolution from 2G services to 3G and 4G, and the subsequent expansion of fibre infrastructure and faster connectivity.

“Looking back at where we started in 2001, the transformation has been remarkable. We moved from a time when mobile lines were limited to a few hundred thousand subscribers to an ecosystem that now supports connectivity across virtually every part of our lives,” he said.

According to him, the impact of this evolution has extended well beyond telecommunications, influencing sectors including healthcare, transportation, manufacturing and technology.

He also spoke about the role of colocation and infrastructure sharing in expanding telecommunications infrastructure while reducing the cost and duplication associated with network deployment. He explained that shared infrastructure allows multiple operators and service providers to leverage existing infrastructure rather than independently building out similar networks.

“Because we’ve been able to build infrastructure that significantly lowers the cost of deployment for a lot

of the mobile network operators, it has helped to drop the cost of the service to the end user as well,” Olaitan said.

He added that IHS Nigeria’s infrastructure supports multiple mobile network operators and internet service providers, while its fibre network provides additional connectivity infrastructure that can be shared by multiple users.

The event also provided an opportunity for participants to share personal memories of Nigeria’s early GSM era, including stories of acquiring their first mobile phones and SIM cards, offering a reminder of just how dramatically mobile connectivity has evolved over the past 25 years.

As Nigeria looks ahead to the next phase of its digital journey, IHS Nigeria remains committed to working with stakeholders to accelerate connectivity, promote sustainable innovation and support inclusive economic growth and digital transformation.